I hereby promulgate the "Ryokan" Business Law.
Signed:HIROHITO, Seal of the Emperor
This twelfth day of the seventh month of the twenty-third year of Showa (July 12, 1948)
Prime Minister ASHIDA Hitoshi
"Ryokan" Business Law
Article 1. This Law shall aim to control appropriately the "Ryokan" business from the standpoint of public health and to adapt the management of the business to public welfare.
Article 2. "Ryokan business" in this Law shall mean the management of hotel, lodging-house or boarding-house as a professional business, obtaining the permit from the prefectural governor.
"A hotel" in this Law shall mean a house or building providing lodging with or without meals for transients for a single day or more, as meets the standards prescribed by the prefectural governor.
"A lodging-house" in this Law shall mean a house, as meets the standards prescribed by the prefectural governor, letting persons lodge or hire a room or rooms for a single night.
"A boarding-house" in this Law shall mean a house, as meets the standards prescribed by the prefectural governor, letting persons board or hire a room or rooms by the week or any term more than a week.
Article 3. Any person who wants to be engaged in the management of a hotel, lodging-house or boarding-house shall obtain the permit from the prefectural governor and shall pay the fee as fixed by Cabinet Order.
The prefectural governor may refuse the permit as provided for in the preceding paragraph in case he finds the situation of the hotel, lodging-house or boarding-house facilities, the structure or accommodation thereof is improper from the standpoint of public health. But such donial shall be made in writing, with a statement of the reason thereof.
Article 4. Any person who is engaged in the "Ryokan" business (to be called the person engaged in the business hereinafter) shall take necessary measures for ventilation, lighting, illumination, damp prevention and cleanliness, and other necessary measures for public health of the lodgers.
The standards of the measures under the preceding paragraph shall be fixed by prefectural regulations.
Article 5. The person engaged in the business shall not refuse lodging unless it comes under any of the following items:
1. The applicant for lodging is clearly found to be afflicted with any infectious disease;
2. The applicant for lodging is found to be liable to commit any illegal act such as gambling or to disturb public decency;
3. In case of no surplus of lodging room and other reason of refusal as fixed by prefectural regulations.
Article 6. The person engaged in the business shall prepare the list of lodgers and describe the names, residences and professions of the lodgers and other necessary informations, and shall present it when demanded by the competent government or public officials.
The lodgers, when required by the person engaged in the business, shall furnish the informations provided for in the preceding paragraph.
Article 7. The prefectural governor, in case he finds it necessary, may claim the necessary report from the person engaged in the business and others concerned or may have the competent officials enter the facilities of business to examine the state of execution of the necessary measures as provided for in Art.4, Par.1.
In case the competent officials enter and make the examination in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, they shall carry with them the identification cards, and when demanded by the person concerned, they shall present the cards to him.
Article 8. The prefectural governor, in case the person engaged in the business offends against the provisions of Art.4, Par.1, may cancel the permit provided for in Art.3, Par.1 or give an order to suspend the business far a fixed term.
Article 9. The prefectural governor, when he wants to make the disposition provided for in the preceding Article, shall request the very person engaged in the business or his deputy to attend the public hearing which he shall carry out.
The prefectural governor shall inform the person engaged in the business of the deeds considered as the reason for the disposition provided for in the preceding Article and the date and place of the public hearing by the time one week prior to the fixed date.
Article 10. Any one who comes under any of the following items shall be punished with a penal servitude or not more than 6 months or a fine of not more than 1,000 yen:
1. Any one who offends against the provisions of Art.3, Par.1;
2. Any one who offends against the order as provided for in Art.8.
Article 11. Ano one who comes under any of the following items shall be punished with a fine of not more than 1,000 yen:
1. Any one who offends against the provisions of Art.5 or. Art.6, Par.1.
2. Any one who does not make the report as provided for in Art.7, Par.1, or makes a false report, or refuses, resists or evades the examination by the competent officials.
Article 12. Any one who makes a false information about the matters provided for in Art.6, Par.1 offending against the provisions of Art.6, Par.2, shall be punished with the detention or minor fine.
Article 13. In case tho representative of a corporation or the deputy, employee or other worker of a corporation or person a violates the provisions of Art.10 or Art.11 concerning the business of the said corporation or person, such corporation or person shall be punished with the fine under each of the said Articles besides the punishment to the actual offender.
Supplementary Provisions:
Article 14. This Law shall come into force as from July 15, 1948.
Article 15. Any person, who is actually engaged in the "Ryokan" business at the time of the enforcement of this Law, with the permit of the business in accordance with the provisions of the old Ordinances, shall be regarded as given the permit of Art.3, Par.1.
Article 16. Any person, who has newly begun the "Ryokan" business during the period from January 1, 1948 to the date of the enforcement of this Law, and is actually engaged in the business at the time of the enforcement of this Law, may continue the business for 2 months from the date of the enforcement of this Law, notwithstanding the provisions of Art.3, Par.1.
Any person coming under the preceding paragraph shall report the fact to the prefectural governor within 2 months from the date of the enforcement of this Law.
Any person who makes the report according to the provisions of the preceding paragragh shall be regarded as given the permit provided for in Art.3, Par.1.